The bombshell Pablo Torre report could not have come at a worse time for the L.A. Clippers. The Clippers are lower than a month away from the beginning of coaching camp and slightly greater than a month away from preseason.
That does not give the NBA a lot time to answer the allegations put forth by Torre that the Clippers circumvented the wage cap. In response to Torre, the Clippers gave the star Kawhi Leonard as much as $48 million in extra cash, on high of his $175 million contract starting in 2021.
If that’s confirmed to be true, then the NBA might hammer the Clippers in a lot the identical approach that they did with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Joe Smith. They punished them by taking away 5 first-round picks (later dropped down to a few) and the equal of a $15 million fantastic in right this moment’s cash.
Will the allegations have an effect on Kawhi Leonard and Clippers subsequent season?
Fortuitously for Clippers followers, the allegations could not have an effect on the Clippers subsequent season, not less than on the court docket. Nonetheless, the potential ramifications might negatively have an effect on the Clippers for years to return.
The Clippers could also be out of a number of future first-round picks. The NBA might probably strip them of their decide swaps in 2026 and 2028 in addition to their first-round picks in 2030, 2031, and 2032.
That can depart them and not using a first-round decide for eight straight years, proving to be a devastating potential punishment. That will not even be the worst-case state of affairs, nevertheless. NBA insider John Hollinger just lately talked about that he believes the league might void Leonard’s contract.
Adam Silver might make an instance of the Clippers
That appears unlikely however not out of the query if Commissioner Adam Silver decides to go the Thor route and drop the hammer on the Clippers. It goes with out saying that that will tank L.A.’s season with their roster constructed round him and James Harden.
That would knock them out of the playoff race and assure that they’d be giving up a lottery decide subsequent season. Have been that to occur, it might be a disastrous ending to the Leonard period and make it a lot tougher to get well with out picks.
Even rebuilding by way of free company might be powerful. In spite of everything, stars do not match free company practically as a lot as they used to, and even when they did, then they’re nonetheless the Clippers, not the Lakers. They do not have the identical degree of status, particularly if the league makes an instance of them, however they’ve put themselves on this place.
